May 7, 2015 3 min read

The business of streamlining the Wild Things’ roster to 24 players begins in earnest today when Washington hosts the Lake Erie Crushers for a day-night exhibition doubleheader.

The Wild Things and Crushers will play three games in two days – the teams will go to Avon, Ohio, for a game Saturday afternoon. Washington has almost 40 players in camp and must be down to 28 by Sunday. Four additional roster moves must be made before the Wild Things open their 14th Frontier League season May 15 against the two-time defending champion Schaumburg Boomers at Consol Energy Park.

Today’s morning contest will be a Kids Day game and closed to the general public. The teams will return to the field for a 7 p.m. game.

According to Washington manager Bob Bozzuto there is much to be gained from these exhibition games because the evaluation process is still an ongoing process, and these are the only remaining opportunities for players to impress.

“We put a lot of stock in these games,” Bozzuto said. “Like every team, we have some question marks. There are a number of rookies who we want to see how they perform. But we’re not going to take what we saw in training camp and just throw that out because of a performance in these games. They are just another variable in the evaluation process.”

Washington does have a logjam of experienced pitchers. They have two returning starters – Matt Sergey and Tim Flight – from last year, and in the offseason signed four pitchers – Ryan Bores, Kevin Brandt, Kyle Helisek and Richie Mirowski – who either played in Class AA last year or started at the high-Class A level. They also traded for starting pitcher Kyle Vazquez, who is a six-year pro.

The bullpen is equally as crowded. Pat Butler and Matt Purnell, two of last year’s setup men, return as does Matt Phillips and Steve Messner, two lefties from the 2013 team. There are several newcomers who have impressed in camp.

“We’re going to have some very difficult decisions,” Bozzuto said. “These things usually work themselves out, but we’re going to have three or four difficult roster reductions to make.”

Unlike affiliated baseball that is geared toward player development, even if means sacrificing wins, independent leagues like the Frontier are results-oriented. That’s what makes the Wild Things’ intrasquad games during camp and the exhibition games so important.

“I think back to something that (former Wild Things manager) John Massarelli used to say – ‘We don’t have time for potential and player development,”’ Bozzuto said. “We are looking for players who can perform when the lights go on.”

Two players, pitcher Kyle Davis and outfielder Tanner Mathis, were released Thursday. Davis is a rookie from Allegheny College. Mathis played college baseball at Mississippi and spent two years in the Houston Astros’ system. Signed were pitcher Mike Devine, catchers Sammy Ayala and Colbe Herr, and first baseman Jack Morrow. Devine is a Springdale native who has played three years in the Frontier League with Traverse City and Normal.